< Russian Soul picked up the winning thread with a convincing victory on his return to Irish action in the Weatherbys Printing Race at Dundalk.

Mick Halford's seven-year-old was unable to make any impact in three starts in Dubai recently and was looking for his first victory since winning at Meydan over a year ago, having performed well but without success during last season's turf campaign.

Sent off the 13-8 favourite, he travelled supremely well behind the pace and the result was never in doubt as he coasted into the lead a furlong out under Shane Foley before going clear to beat Balmont Mast by a length and a half.< The Dancing Lord has been in terrific form on the all-weather track over the winter and John Geoghegan's much-improved six-year-old posted a fifth success from his last seven outings in the www.dundalkstadium.com Rated Race.

Robbie Downey didn't have things all his own way on the evens favourite, who was trapped on the inside coming up the straight and had to be pulled out to make his effort, but all was well in the end as he grabbed Beau Satchel late on to win by half a length.

The jockey doubled up when 5-4 favourite Poitin edged in front deep inside the final furlong to take the Dundalk Stadium Winter Series Awards Rated Race by half a length, following up last month's victory at the track for her new handler Keith Clarke.

Jessie Harrington's 10-11 favourite Period Piece broke her duck after three runner-up starts when she took the Elusive Pimpernel Claiming Maiden, Pat Smullen hitting the front nearing the furlong pole and keeping her going to score by a length and a quarter.

Eamonn O'Connell's Roter Baron (7-1) got off the mark a fortnight ago and defied a 5lb hike in the Champions Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Handicap, hitting the front a furlong out and holding Chatterton s charge by half a length under Declan McDonogh.< Family Pride (11-2) asserted from the two pole under Kevin Manning to take the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Package Handicap, while Wayne Lordan kept Annadiamond (25-